MONSTER MAGNET // STYLUS, LEEDS
WHAT’S THAT COMING OVER THE HILL…IT’S MONSTER MAGNET!
MONSTER MAGNET PERFORMING AT LEEDS STYLUS - 23.01.2020
PICTURE BY: | JOHN HAYHURST @SNAPAGIG.COM
★★★★☆ (4/5)
7 Months ago we got the news that Monster Magnet had cancelled their European ‘Mindfucker’ album jaunt due to lead Spacelord Dave Wyndorf’s tonsils, sounding a little like a sketch from Spinal Tap the New Jersey Monsters quickly promised to return in early 2020 to celebrate ‘Powertrip’ and true to their word, they were back in Leeds tonight and Dave’s tonsils were in fine shape.
This gig was supposed to be at the Academy but instead I think they sensed ticket sales were not quite as planned so it was quickly shifted to the smaller Stylus venue in the University grounds. This isn’t the first time they have played here and to be honest I prefer the more intense feeling of being close up to these psychedelic rocking warhorses. Tonight’s celebration of Powertrip means that they are playing the album in full, in order etc. There is a few of these whole album tours doing the rounds and Monster Magnet have been quick to add a full Euro and now North American tour too.
Tonight’s show was one of only 3 in the UK before they hit mainland Europe for most of February. Opening as you would have expected with Crop Circle, but NO!, they decide to muddle the order up a bit, keep us on our toes – ‘Atomic Clock’ is the opener, so why not frazzle our brain cells a little, trying to work out which songs they haven’t played. However, what it all really meant was that they could leave the high energy of ‘Powertrip’ and ‘Space Lord’ to the end. Your two big numbers – no point throwing them away in the first three is there?. Powertrip is exactly that, it is relentless and surging good time rock’n’roll, heavy songs and with some space noodling in there for good measure. Imagine Hawkwind with a more Motorhead feel and you’re getting there.
Phil Caivano on guitar and back in the fold since 2008 after a 3-year hiatus is as animated as he’s ever been and looking cool as beans in his mirrored shades. Letting Garrett Sweeny and Chris Kosnik get boxed in stage right, as there’s not a lot of space on stage here. Dave Wyndorf is keeping cool though with a huge electric fan in front of him and some lights that shine directly and just to his face making him look like a little zombiefied.
Musically, the album stands the test of time and the audience here are perhaps a little older than your normal rock crowd, they are loyal and have probably travelled quite a way to see them as this one show is the only one in the Midlands/North. Once we had got to Space Lord and the crowd had done the usual singalong “OOOOOOOHH Space Lord Muthafucker” it was all about the encore and having several songs in their arsenal we start with their usual opener ‘Dopes to Infinity’. Then we get the fantasy based ‘Look to Your Orb for the Warning’ which if memory serves me right was included in the soundtrack to the film ‘The Matrix’.
Leaving crowd favourite ’Negasonic Teenage Warhead’ to the very end. A great show and a shame they aren’t hanging around for a few more dates. They will be back though, these Powertrippin’ War Horses don’t stay off the road too long.
SETLIST: | MONSTER MAGNET : STYLUS, LEEDS - 23.01.2020
INTRO: (Goliath and the Vampires)
Atomic Clock
Tractor
Crop Circle
Temple of Your Dreams
3rd Eye Landslide
See You In Hell
Baby Gotterdamerung
Bummer
Powertrip
Space Lord
ENCORE;
Dopes to Infinity
The Right Stuff - (Robert Calvert cover)
Look to Your Orb for the Warning
Negasonic Teenage Warhead